Hong Kong China Confirms It Will Host Brazil For Two Men’s 15s Autumn 2024 Internationals

Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) has confirmed that its Men’s 15s representative team will play Brazil in a two-match series in Hong Kong in November 2024 with matches to be played on November 9th and 16th. The fixtures had already been reported in South America and we alluded to this recently.

Updated October 13 2024 (Ticketing information)

This means that three of the four teams competing in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 have confirmed internationals against non-Asian opposition. The Autumn international fixtures are a key part of the respective team’s preparation for the annual championship which in 2025 will guarantee the winner’s qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

This will be the first time Brazil plays in Hong Kong and the sides enjoyed a very close encounter in July of this year, with HKCR winning with the last kick of the game 26-25. HKCR Executive Director of Performance Rugby, Jo Hull said of the significance of the two matches;

“This year we’ve made a concerted effort to increase the amount of international matches that we play, including our three-match tour to South America, and this is very much looking at the optimum preparation for the Asia Rugby Championship in 2025.

We are using this November window to bring the team and staff together as we prepare for what is absolutely critical nine months leading into possible World Cup qualification, as we look to maximise every opportunity we have within our current resource.”

Hong Kong China Men’s 15s Captain Joshua Hrstich also said, “It’s always exciting to get the gang back together, and with the opportunity ahead, our group is highly motivated and eager to get back on the pitch. We are really fortunate to have clever individuals monitoring our loading process, and as a player, it is easy to trust them to ensure that we are in the best possible shape to compete.

“Brazil has a very strong team, as we saw recently during our summer tour to South America when they pushed us for the full 80 minutes. They are a big, physical team that is not afraid to move the ball, so we are looking forward to hosting them for what should be two super competitive games.”

HKCR vs Brazil Mens’s XV Internationals – November 2024

Photo Credit HKCR – Match vs Brazil in July 2024

The first match between Hong Kong China and Brazil will be played at Hong Kong Football Club on Saturday 9 November 2024, while the second and final match will be played at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground on Saturday 16 November. Both matches will kick off at 4 PM.

Jo Hull added, “Playing Brazil will give us a really good benchmark as to where the team’s at, how much we’ve improved since the South America tour and most important of all quality time together as a team.

Welcoming opposition from outside of Asia also helps us to engage and excite a wider audience. As an organisation, we’re trying to generate role models within our programmes to inspire the next generation to get involved in rugby, and a big part of that work happens when we get the chance to play high-profile fixtures in front of our home crowds.”  

Ticket information for both matches will be released in October 2024 by HKCR.

• HKCR World Rugby Ranking #23
• Brazil World Rugby Ranking #29

HKCR vs Brazil –  Autumn 2024 Internationals Tickets

The ticketing information for the two matches in Hong Kong is available here.

Asian Men’s International 2024

It was confirmed in September 2023 that Zimbabwe Rugby Union will face South Korea after their match in the UAE this November with the match due to be played on Nov 16th 2024 (most likely at the Incheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Field).

This means that there will be four Asian Men’s XV Tests on the same day all facing non-Asian opposition (when was the last time that happened if ever?)

Japan has qualified for RWC 2027 but HKCR, Korea, UAE, and Sri Lanka will all be in contention at the ARMC 2025 to earn qualification. The latter is the only one without a test confirmed.

26 October (Nissan Stadium, Yokohama) – Brave Blossoms vs All Blacks
5 November (The Sevens Stadium, UAE) – UAE vs Zimbabwe
9 November (Stade de France, Paris) – France vs Brave Blossoms
9 November (Hong Kong Football Club, Hong Kong) –  HKCR vs Brazil (match TBC)

16 November (Chambérie Savois Stadium, France) – Japan vs Uruguay

16 November (Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground, Hong Kong) – HKCR vs Brazil

16 November (The Sevens Stadium, UAE) – UAE vs Germany

16 November (venue TBC) South Korea vs Zimbabwe

International Rugby 2024

• UAE And Hong Kong China Men’s XV To Host November 2024 International Tests.
• Pools & Schedule Confirmed For WXV 2024.
• Fans Guide To HSBC SVNS Series 2024-2025.
• JRFU Fixtures 2024 – Brave Blossoms, Japan XV, Sakura XV.